Chapter 14 · Old Debts Bite

The silver was already burning into his skin.

I could smell it. That sharp, wrong smell like pennies left on a hot stove. Cain's jaw was locked so tight I thought his teeth might crack, but he wasn't making a sound. The collar sat against his throat like a promise. One wrong move and Vera would tighten it.

She hadn't even broken a sweat getting it on him.

"Let him go." My voice came out steadier than I felt. "He didn't do anything."

Vera didn't look at me. Her hand stayed on the chain attached to the collar, loose but ready. She was watching Cain like he might explode. Maybe he would. I could see the muscle jumping in his jaw, the way his hands were fisted at his sides.

"He harbored a shifter," Vera said. Her voice was flat. Professional. Like she was reading off a grocery list. "That's grounds for execution under Guild law. You know that, Cain."

"Then execute me." Cain's voice was rough, shredded. The silver was doing something to him. I could see the red mark spreading from under the collar, crawling up toward his jaw. "Let her walk.